Paint applicator

ABSTRACT

A paint applicator comprising a paint container including a paint reservoir and an elongated tank having an elongated opening; an axially elongated cylindrical paint applying roller mounted to be partly encased by the elongated tank; supporting means on the tank for supporting the roller; a passage leading from the paint reservoir to the elongated tank for supplying paint under gravity to the elongated tank; and a handle attached to the paint container.

United States Patent Ten Heuw July 8, 1975 1 PAINT APPLICATOR 3,115.659 12/1963 Church 401/15 3,148,402 9/1964 Garabon 401 218 [76] 28 3,160,909 12/1964 Nelkin 401/15 Catherine plvmsiead Cape 3,212,121 10/1965 Munn..... 401/218 T n, South Afri a 3,263,263 8/1966 Munn i .1 401 21 s [22] Filed: Man 8 1973 3,712,748 1/1973 wilmans 1. 401 132 x App]. No.: 339,134

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 10, 1972 South Africa 72/1672 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,919 1/1888 Boyle 401/15 465,188 12/1891 Moore 401/15 2,570,243 10/1951 Johnson 401/208 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alfred Stapler; Gerard J. Weiser; Karl L. Spivak [57] ABSTRACT A paint applicator comprising a paint container including a paint reservoir and an elongated tank having an elongated opening; an axially elongated cylindrical paint applying roller mounted to be partly encased by the elongated tank; supporting means on the tank for supporting the roller; a passage leading from the paint reservoir to the elongated tank for supplying paint under gravity to the elongated tank; and a handle attached to the paint container.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET .llA

PAINT APPLICATOR The present invention relates to paint applicators and paint applicator containers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a paint applicator container which can be used for painting overhead surfaces without dripping paint, and which also has provision for an automatic supply of paint during use.

According to the invention a paint applicator comprises a paint container which includes a paint reservoir and an elongated tank having an elongated opening; an axially elongated cylindrical paint applying roller mounted to be partly encased by the elongated tank; supporting means on the tank for supporting the roller; a passage leading from the paint reservoir to the elongated tank for supplying paint under gravity to the elongated tank; and a handle attached to the paint container.

The paint reservoir may have a closable filling lid.

The paint container may have a subsidiary reservoir on the side of the tank remote from the paint reservoir into which subsidiary reservoir excessive paint can flow under gravity from the tank.

Grooves may be provided in the tank transversely to the roller for allowing paint to be spread over the whole of the tank.

The paint container may be made integrally from synthetic plastic material.

Further according to the invention, a paint applicator container comprises a paint reservoir; an elongated tank having a removable lid, the elongated tank being adapted to encase partly an axially elongated cylindri cal paint applying roller on removal of the elongated lid; supporting means on the tank for supporting the roller; a passage leading from the paint reservoir to the elongated tank for supplying paint under gravity to the elongated tank; and handle attachment means for attaching a handle to the paint container.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a side view of a paint applicator in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 a plan view seen along arrow II in FIG. 1 (but excluding the abutment rollers);

FIG. 3 a plan view of a paint applicator container;

FIG. 4 a side view of the paint applicator container seen along arrow IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a paint applicator with a different type of handle arrangement, and with some other features; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view seen along arrow VI in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the paint applicator 10 comprises a paint container 12, including a paint reservoir 14 and an elongated tank 16 having an elongated opening 18. The paint applicator 10 further comprises a paint applying roller 20 mounted in the tank 16. A handle 22 is attached by means of a rod 24 to the paint container 12.

The container 12 further has a subsidiary reservoir 26, which is closed on three sides and at its top.

The roller 20 is mounted by means of its shaft 20.], in recesses 28, provided in the side walls 32, 32,34 the tank 16. Spring clips may be located in these recesses if necessary.

An elongated paint retaining groove 36 is provided between the reservoir 14 and the tank 16.

The reservoir 14 has a closable filling opening 38 and a closable side opening 40 for cleaning purposes.

The reservoir 14 and the tank 16 are joined by means of a passage 42. This passage 42 is provided centrally and is formed between tapering walls 44, 46.

.On top, the reservoir 14 may have an abutment roller 48. Further rollers 50,52 may be provided at the subsidiary reservoir 26 so as to prevent the applicator from colliding with a wall, ceiling, etc. These rollers are optional and are not shown in FIG. 2.

Before use, the reservoir 14 is filled with paint through the opening 38. By suitably holding the applicator, paint will flow through the passage 42 centrally into the tank 16 and the paint roller 20 will pick up the paint. Depending on the inclination of the applicator, paint will flow either into the subsidiary reservoir 26 or will flow back via the groove 36 to the passage 42.

Paint now can be applied to ceilings, walls, etc. and the danger of splashing or dripping is extensively eliminated.

The subsidiary reservoir 26 has a roof 26.1 tapering downwardly towards the roller 20 to allow paint to flow to it. The roof 36.1 of the groove 36 tapers downwardly in opposite directions also to facilitate downward flow of paint.

The tank 16 may have grooves 16.1 to allow for a good distribution of the paint across the length of the roller 20.

The tank 16 and roller 20 may be closable by means of a removable lid (not shown).

In FIGS. 3 and 4 a paint applicator container 54 is shown. This container 54 is substantially equivalent to the container 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in this case, before use, the elongated raised lid 56 has to be removed (e.g. by cutting) so as to expose the tank 58 (equivalent to the tank 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2.). The roller shaft then can be mounted in the recesses 60, which then are exposed. The container 54 has handle attachment means (e.g. a tube 62) for receiving a handle rod. Alternatively, the handle arrangement as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used.

The container 54 thus can be filled through the lid 64 with paint and sold to a customer. Before use, the customer will have to cut out or remove the lid 56 and insert a roller (supplied separately) into position. He also will have to attach a handle. Paint will then flow from the reservoir 66 through the passage 68 as described above and the applicator is ready for use.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the container 70 has four lugs 72, 74, 76, 78, each provided with a hole. Into these holes two V-shaped rods or stiff wires 80,82 are fitted. The rods 80,82 are joined by means of a rod or wire 84 on which a handle 86 is mounted.

The container 70 also has recesses 88,90 in which abutment roller wheels 92,94 are rotatably mounted. These wheels 92, 94 have the same function as the rollers 48,52 in FIG. 1.

As is further shown in FIG. 6, in place of the passage 42 of FIG. 2, three passages 96, 98, are provided.

I claim:

1. A paint applicator comprising a paint container which includes a paint reservoir and an elongated tank having an elongated opening; an axially elongated cylindrical paint applying roller mounted to be partly encased by the elongated tank; supporting means on the tank for supporting the roller; a passage leading from the paint reservoir to the elongated tank for supplying paint under gravity to the elongated tank; a subsidiary reservoir on the side of the tank remote from the paint reservoir and in bidirectional communication with said tank within the confines of said container, into which subsidiary reservoir excessive paint can flow under gravity from the tank; and an additional subsidiary reservoir between said tank and reservoir, said additional subsidiary reservoir extending parallel to said tank.

2. A paint applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the paint reservoir has a closable filling lid.

3. A paint applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which grooves are provided in the tank transversely to the roiplastic material. 

1. A paint applicator comprising a paint container which includes a paint reservoir and an elongated tank having an elongated opening; an axially elongated cylindrical paint applying roller mounted to be partly encased by the elongated tank; supporting means on the tank for supporting the roller; a passage leading from the paint reservoir to the elongated tank for supplying paint under gravity to the elongated tank; a subsidiary reservoir on the side of the tank remote from the paint reservoir and in bidirectional communiCation with said tank within the confines of said container, into which subsidiary reservoir excessive paint can flow under gravity from the tank; and an additional subsidiary reservoir between said tank and reservoir, said additional subsidiary reservoir extending parallel to said tank.
 2. A paint applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the paint reservoir has a closable filling lid.
 3. A paint applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which grooves are provided in the tank transversely to the roller for allowing paint to be spread over the whole of the tank.
 4. A paint applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which all parts of the paint container are made integrally from synthetic plastic material.
 5. The paint applicator of claim 1, wherein said elongated tank has a removable lid, and further comprising handle attachment means for attaching a handle to the paint container.
 6. A paint applicator container as claimed in claim 5, of which all parts are made integrally from synthetic plastic material. 